UK considers social media ban for under-16s amid growing online safety concerns
The UK government is considering new restrictions that could prevent children under the age of 16 from using social media, as concerns about online safety continue to grow.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce the policy within days after a government consultation found overwhelming support among parents for stronger protections for children online.
According to Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, nine in ten parents who responded to the consultation said they would support a social media ban for under-16s.
Speaking to Sky News, Kendall said ministers are currently considering two broad approaches. One option would introduce a blanket ban on social media use for children under 16, while another would restrict access to specific features on social media platforms and apps.
"A ban is on the table," she said.
The government is also exploring whether age verification technology could be used to enforce any new rules. Similar tools were introduced in the UK last year to restrict access to online pornography to adults.
These systems typically require users to verify their age through banking or credit card information, or via age checks carried out by mobile network providers.
The proposal forms part of a wider push by the government to strengthen online protections for children.
In a recent speech, Starmer gave technology companies three months to introduce device controls that would prevent children from sending and receiving sexually explicit images.
Kendall said the government would not hesitate to introduce legislation if major technology companies fail to act.
For many parents, the debate raises an increasingly familiar question: how can children enjoy the benefits of technology while remaining safe online?
As governments around the world continue to grapple with that challenge, the UK's proposed measures could become one of the most significant attempts yet to reshape how young people access social media.
